Imagine you are on a road and you have to make an urgent phone call. But you forgot to charge up your phone last night and it is now switched off due to having no battery power. At that moment, wouldn’t it be a great help to you if you find a mobile charging station nearby? Understanding the fact, cellular network provider AT&T has decided to launch solar-powered charging stations across New York City.
AT&T has partnered with solar kit manufacturer Goal Zero and design studio Pensa to offer an eco-friendly solution for those who need on-the-go charging: public solar-powered charging stations. The project is dubbed as Street Charge. AT&T will set up the Street Charges at different places in the NYC including the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island, Riverside Park, Rockaways, Summerstage in Central Park, Randall’s Island, Governor’s Island, Union Square, and Hudson River Park.
The Street Charge stations will feature six built-in USB ports and three charging tips, including a micro-USB, Apple’s 30-pin connector and even the latest Lightning charger. The station itself is a tall metal pole with a three-pronged fan of 15-watt solar panels at the top. The panels charge internal 168-watt-hour lithium battery to ensure that the stations have enough power to charge your phone even if it’s night or a cloudy day.
Public will be able to charge phones, tablets and other devices even if the city’s power is out. That means Street Charge stations are a 24/7 solar-powered charging stations for mobile users around the city. Besides providing power, Street Charge also has the potential to grow into a hub for lighting, Wi-Fi, and signage for ads and maps.
Street Charge has already been debuted in four locations. AT&T expects to launch around 25 Street Charge mobile stations this summer. Here are the details of the locations.
Manhattan:
* Riverside Park, Pier I
* Union Square Park, North Plaza
* Rumsey Playfield, Central Park Summerstage
* Hudson River Park Pier 59
* Randall’s Island
Brooklyn:
* Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1
* Fort Greene Park
* Coney Island
* Metrotech Plaza
* The Dumbo Arts Festival
* The Brooklyn Book Festival
Queens:
* Rockaway Beach
* Clearview Golf Course
* Socrates Sculpture Park
Bronx:
* Orchard Beach
Staten Island:
* Governors Island
* La Tourette Golf Course
* Staten Island Zoo
You can find the closest AT&T Street Charge station online and on Twitter, via the hashtag #attstreetcharge. As of now, the stations will be up until September 2013, but if the trial run is a success, permanent locations could be announced.
Source: PC Magazine
Thanks To: The Verge
[ttjad keyword=”hot”]
